The Former Holy Knight. Having Lost My Job and Childhood Friend, I Decided to Start a Dark Guild - Chapter 72

The plan advanced swiftly yet cautiously. The first step was to make contact with the heretics listed by Sofia and secure their allegiance. The subsequent step was to discreetly have these loyal heretics apprehended by the inquisitors and transported to Torquemada’s residence.

This was a plan requiring utmost secrecy, as being discovered would mean the end. However, the training from my Holy Knight Academy days proved invaluable. Holy Knights often operate in secrecy, and intelligence activities were rigorously instilled during training. Thanks to this, I successfully infiltrated eight heretics into Torquemada’s residence over the course of a month.

Daily, information from inside the residence reached me. The unfolding events at Torquemada’s house were as expected.

The heretics were auctioned to prominent nobles and religious leaders. Torquemada was amassing a vast fortune by exploiting his position.

Surprisingly, cases like Lily, who became a comforter for Torquemada himself, were rare. The heretics I sent were restrained, but they were guaranteed three meals a day, and no abuse occurred. It seems that heretics, like any goods, are more valuable unspoiled.

As the recovery celebration for Duke LeBlanc, which I had told Cecil I would attend, approached, all preparations were nearly finalized.

“Don… is it really alright for someone like me to be here?” Kano, dressed in a green gown, asked nervously.

The grand hall in Giantstone Castle was magnificent. The attendees were all prominent nobles, and our out-of-place feeling was intense. Though Kano and I had gone to a tailor to dress appropriately for the party, our clothes were clearly of a different class.

Since the king was bedridden, Prince Raymond and Duke LeBlanc were the highest-ranking attendees present, though they had yet to appear. Cecil also seemed to be absent.

Kano looked at the luxurious food spread out on the tables and said, “Don, is it really true that we can eat the food on the table for free?”

“Yes, eat as much as you like.”

Kano glanced around before quickly stuffing some food into a bag she had brought.

“I did it!” she said, returning to me with a satisfied look.

“Hey, hey, you’re planning to take it back now?”

“I promised Sani and Nina-chan that I’d bring back food eaten by important people,” she replied.

Although I compensate Kano fairly, her personality remains unchanged since we first met. However, that is precisely what makes her endearing.

Soon, the court orchestra that had been playing in the great hall stopped, and the chatter of the nobles also ceased suddenly. Even someone as unfamiliar with power struggles as me could feel a palpable tension among the nobles.

Prince Raymond and Duke LeBlanc then appeared on stage, the main figures of the party.

Prince Raymond expressed deep regret for inadvertently causing the rebellion and joy over his uncle’s recovery. Applause erupted from the audience.

Duke LeBlanc’s greeting was unusually brief. He stated, “I attended only to save face for His Majesty,” then left the great hall with his soldiers. The hall remained silent, tension hanging in the air like a taut string.

Only Prince Raymond seemed unconcerned, laughing and drinking. When the court orchestra resumed, the nobles’ conversations started again.

Clearly, with the king indisposed, a tug-of-war for power was evident. All attending nobles seemed to be analyzing the situation carefully.

While I was pondering this, Kano silently communicated to me, “It’s Torquemada.”

Indeed, approaching us with a congenial smile was the Inquisitor Torquemada, followed by two women in nun’s attire with their faces covered.

I had anticipated Torquemada contacting me here to some extent.

It was unclear how much Torquemada knew about me, but at the very least, he was aware of my family’s involvement with his trade partner Grittz, through Kano and Seneca. It was natural for him to take an interest in the Don of the Michino Family, and attending this party had that purpose.

When he reached us, Torquemada maintained his smile and said, “A pleasure to meet you, Don Michino. I’ve heard much about your significant endeavors.”

After evaluating me for a moment, he continued, “I have some matters to discuss with you. This isn’t the place for it, so please follow me. The charming elf there may join us as well.”

Without waiting for a response, Torquemada, accompanied by his two subordinates, led us out of the great hall.

He took us to a reception room managed by the Papal States within Giantstone Castle. Upon entering, the smile vanished from Torquemada’s face.

“Let’s get straight to the point. A certain girl in your care is far too dangerous. She’s not the type of heretic a small dark guild like yours should handle.”

“A girl?” I feigned ignorance.

“Don’t play dumb. You have her, don’t you? Nina Nightsky, a heretic we were managing. She isn’t someone you should possess.”

So he knew about Nina being with our family.

“However, Inquisitor Torquemada. You were plotting to sell that dangerous heretic to Capone. You do realize the current situation between us and Capone, right?”

Torquemada’s expression remained unaltered.

“I’m not sure what you’re implying. We manage heretics properly and handle them as needed. I’m not familiar with dark guilds, nor would I engage in the dishonorable acts you mentioned.”

“Raping a heretic in front of her husband seems quite dishonorable to me.”

At that, Torquemada’s face twisted slightly, and he laughed heartily.

“Indeed, you are as strange as the rumors say, Don Michino. Now I understand why Sofia Gracier was captivated by a dark guild’s Don out of nowhere. You are not to be taken lightly. Well then, let’s have an open discussion.”

Torquemada grabbed the nun’s attire of the woman behind him.

“I don’t want a conflict with you. What I desire is co-prosperity. To prove it, I’ve brought a gift.”

With a yank, the nun’s attire slipped, revealing a woman barely covered, her skin exposed.

“Both are yours, Don Michino, as you can see. They are beautiful, recently captured, and untouched, possessing promising heretical skills. If they’re not to your taste, I can arrange for foreign women, beastmen, or beautiful young men—anything you desire.”

He paused before adding, “Of course, handing over Nina is a condition.”

Hearing Torquemada’s proposal solidified what I had suspected since I accepted the commission. Then, I responded.

“I’ll take you up on that offer… I’d like a heretic girl.”

“What kind of girl would you desire? There are various kinds,” he asked.

“Lily Ludwig. The one you disgraced and impregnated, the only daughter of the Ludwig Trading Company.” 

As I finished, two things happened simultaneously.

First, five inquisitors wielding maces appeared from all directions, surrounding Kano and me. Simultaneously, the twin heretics pulled daggers from their bosoms and thrust them at Torquemada Slobin’s throat.

With the blade touching his throat, causing blood to drip, Inquisitor Torquemada wore a look of shock.

“I see, you are more than I imagined, Don Michino.”